The world of work has changed. Leadership must evolve with it.Meet our lead authors, Nancy Dewar, Drew Munro, and Kim Rowan:We wrote this book in response to a fundamental shift in how work happens---and what people need from their leaders and coaches. Today, leadership is no longer just about driving results. It’s about cultivating high-performance cultures where individuals and teams don’t just perform---they thrive. How leaders connect, communicate, and develop others has never mattered more. That’s why coaching is no longer optional---it’s essential. This book is for leaders who want to help their teams grow through curiosity, meaningful dialogue, and true partnership---and for professional coaches committed to deepening their practice. Through authentic case stories and insights from experienced coaches, you’ll find practical tools and approaches to elevate your impact. We invite you to read with intention, experiment with the tools, and apply what you
learn---so that growth becomes part of how work happens every day.
CONTRIBUTING AUTHORSRichard Antosik, Lissa Appiah, Vivianne Bridgeman, Dr. Valerie J. Davis, Andrea De Jager-Jackson, David Henry, Gary Keogh, Louise Lee, Michelle Martin, Jen Nash, Nadine Rivard, Troy Taylor, Dany Trudel
ABOUT THE BOOKAs Matthew Holmes of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce says in his foreword, "Leaders today are living through what may be the most disruptive period for business---and the workplace cultures they depend upon---in generations. With tools and case studies from experienced mentors and coaches, this book is for those who are learning to be leaders in uncertain times---especially those who know that learning is always continuous. It’s for leaders who know that adaptation is absolute, and that understanding how to connect with other humans is always the first, and most important step."
Among the topics covered:
- Integrating coaching into your work as a leader with presence and practice
- How to give teams a voice (because silent teams add no value!)
- How understanding values unlocks performance
- Coaching leaders to amplify introverted voices
- Coaching and encouraging women in leadership positions
- Why most goals fail and how to fix them
- Leading when everything’s urgent: Practical coaching techniques for fast-paced environments
- Coaching (and leading) across generations: A co-active approach
- From fixing gaps to amplifying strengths: A new lens on growth and performance
- Helping public service leaders find their authentic leadership presence
- Creating a culture of accountability
- From firefighter to strategist: Coaching leaders to think bigger and lead differently
- Coaching leadership readiness: Accelerating transitions to step up with confidence
- Coaching individuals and teams through conflict
- Coaching teams for impact
- Coaching teams to build resilience and growth
- Engineering high-performance teams
- Mentoring in executive coaching
- Using AI in coaching (bonus chapter)
Nancy Dewar, M.Ed., PCC, ACMC, is the owner of Inspire Coaching and Training Inc. She is an executive coach, certified mentor coach, keynote speaker, and business leader with over twenty-five years of experience in senior leadership, sales, marketing, and learning and development. She brings a strong coaching foundation through her Master's in Adult Learning, Professional Certified Coach designation, and over fifteen years of coaching individuals at senior levels. Nancy supports organizations in leadership development, culture transformation, customer experience, and high-performance sales. She is also a published author and TED speaker known for helping leaders trust their instincts, elevate their impact, and unlock their full potential.
Drew Munro is co-founder and principal at LEAD for Growth, with decades of global leadership experience across North America, Europe, and Australasia. He has guided senior teams in transforming organizations, building high-performance cultures and driving sustainable growth across industries from consumer goods to technology, healthcare, and professional services. A certified executive coach and organizational strategist, Drew combines hands-on business experience with deep expertise in leadership development to help leaders unlock their potential, make confident decisions, and create lasting impact.
Kim Rowan, a principal at LEAD for Growth, has more than twenty years' executive HR and general management experience and six years in human capital consulting and executive coaching. She specializes in shaping strategy and developing leadership teams that operate with clarity, cohesion, and trust-creating the healthy cultures needed to deliver against the organization's mission and vision.
